Stars:
Eric Stoltz, Mary Stuart Masterson, Craig Sheffer, Lea Thompson, and Elias
Koteas
Writer:
John Hughes
Director:
Howard Deutch
Feature
length: 94 minutes
Languages:
English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound, Dolby Surround Sound, and French
Language Monaural Sound
Subtitles:
English Captions and Closed Captions
Packaging:
Amaray Keep Case
Chapter
Stops: 22
Sound:
Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound, Dolby Surround Sound, and Monaural Sound
Year
of Theatrical Release: 1987/DVD Release: 2002
Theatrical
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Home
Video Distributor: Paramount Home Entertainment
MPAA
Rating: PG-13
Reviewer:
Mark A. Rivera
The
last of the six 80’s teenage films John Hughes produced is actually more or
less a remake of “Pretty In Pink” with a few of the elements changed around.
This time our auburn hair protagonist is Eric Stoltz who also lives on the poor
side of the train tracks (Literally!) and forsakes the affection of his best
tomboy buddy (Mary Stuart Masterson) for rich girl (Leah Thompson) and in the
process all three go through emotional changes sparked in part by peer pressure
and whatnot. Okay maybe I am being superficial here, but lets examine and
compare the similarities in “Pretty In Pink” and “Some Kind Of
Wonderful” besides the story synopsis I’ve detailed above.
Besides
being poor, both lead characters attend high schools inhabited by an eclectic
mix of the lower middle class to poor and the very wealthy students. Both
characters have artistic aspirations: Ringwald has a talent for designing her
own clothes while Stoltz is a painter. Both have problem fathers: Ringwald’s
has not worked since the death of his wife and Stoltz’ is consistently riding
him about going to business college. Both work in service jobs: Ringwald is a
record store clerk while Stoltz is a gas station attendant. Both have best
friends who pine after them: Ringwald has John Cryer while Stoltz has Mary
Stuart Masterson. Both have antagonists who not only dress the same, but pretty
much do their best to sabotage the relationships the protagonists have around
them: in “Pretty In Pink” it is James Spader while “Some Kind Of
Wonderful” features “Craig Sheffer.”
Alas
only the ending of the films are where they really depart and in hindsight
having not seen this film in nearly 15 years I have to say that while both films
have their problems, I think “Some Kind Of Wonderful” is actually the better
of the two because it is less glitzy and more dramatic. Of course this could
also be because I am a guy and maybe if I was a woman I’d prefer “Pretty In
Pink,” but I invite all of you readers out there to watch both of these DVD-Videos
that street on the same day, but are sold separately and tell me which one you
like better and if you agree they are essentially the same story reworked.
Like
“Pretty In Pink,” Paramount Home Entertainment’s DVD edition of “Some
Kind Of Wonderful” features a very nice and clear (1.85:1) anamorphic
widescreen transfer complete with a new English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
Soundtrack coupled with the original English Dolby Stereo Surround Soundtrack,
and a French Language Monaural Soundtrack coupled with English Captions and
Closed Captions for the hearing impaired as options. The soundtrack gets a 5.1
Surround Sound remix as well, but somehow I feel the remix works better here
with signature tunes like “I Go Crazy” by “Flesh For Lulu” sounding more
natural than the “Psychedelic Furs” do with their signature song “Pretty
In Pink” in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound in their respective films.
Unfortunately there are also no extra features on this DVD at all. Not even a
trailer. Paramount should have released both of these films as a double feature
or maybe package this with “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” and make a John
Hughes DVD Gift Pack for the holidays.
Paramount
Home Entertainment is releasing “Some Kind Of Wonderful” day and date with
its mirror image or sorts “Pretty In Pink”
sold separately on DVD-Video on Tuesday, August 20, 2002.
©
Copyright 2002 By Mark A. Rivera
All Rights Reserved.